Whitecaps' Darren Mattocks rips team, former coach after disappointing season

The Canadian Press11.06.2013

Vancouver Whitecaps forward Darren Mattocks unleashes a shot at net during a May 11, 2013 Major League Soccer game against the L.A. Galaxy at BC Place Stadium. Mattocks is critical of how the Whitecaps handled him during his sophomore season.

VANCOUVER — Vancouver Whitecaps forward Darren Mattocks has sounded off about his disappointing second season in Major League Soccer, ripping the club and recently fired head coach Martin Rennie on Jamaican television.

The 23-year-old scored just three times in 20 appearances, including eight starts, in 2013 after a rookie campaign that saw him record seven goals in 21 games.

Mattocks helped Vancouver make the post-season in 2012, but the Whitecaps missed the playoffs this season, leading to Rennie's dismissal last week.

Speaking on the program "Football GPS" on Tuesday, Mattocks criticized Rennie's handling of both himself and the squad.

"When (I was) leading the team, as a rookie, Vancouver made the playoffs," said Mattocks, who started 15 games in 2012 and scored in the Whitecaps' playoff loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy. "My second season, coach put me on the bench (the) majority of the season. (He and I) couldn't agree."

Mattocks also said that teams from England were interested in his services, but that the Whitecaps refused to entertain the idea of selling the forward. The Jamaican international added that the club also turned down a $1.2-million offer from another team in MLS.

"If (I) can do a successful first season and in my second you will try to jeopardize my career, I'm not naive and I'm not going to stay," said Mattocks, who denied he had anything to do with Rennie's firing. "Every other team in MLS wants me."

Mattocks, who made $212,000 this season, found himself way down the Whitecaps' pecking order behind star striker and Golden Boot winner Camilo Sanvezzo, veteran Kenny Miller and 18-year-old phenom Kekuta Manneh because of injuries, inconsistency and international duty.

"Any time you get him kind of in and around the team, he seems to be gone again," Rennie said of Mattocks in October. "That's something that has hurt him a little bit this season."

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Share

Whitecaps' Darren Mattocks rips team, former coach after disappointing season

Video

Sports Highlights

MMA Videos

Best of Postmedia

Swoop has yet to pick up a single customer, but Canada’s newest ultra-low-cost carrier is already talking about expanding into a market that is just taking off. Launched by WestJet Airlines Ltd., Calgary-based Swoop started booking customers this month for flights that begin this summer connecting five Canadian cities. It is offering discounted fares on […]

Director Ryan Coogler admits he was surprised by the initial feedback he got from the bigwigs at Marvel Studios when he began sharing his vision for its next franchise, Black Panther. After all, he was set to make a $200-million epic blockbuster; a popcorn movie that mixed dazzling special effects, heart-stopping action sequences and sprawling […]

At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Mary Ormsby of the Toronto Star took one look at the fit, spandex-laden forms of the cross-country skiers and declared: “I have found my new sport.” Ormsby wasn’t a typical out-of-shape scribe. She had been an all-American volleyball player at Ohio State, so knew athletics from both sides. […]

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.